Environmental groups challenge revival of Wayanad airstrip project

Environmental activists have mounted fresh opposition to the proposed revival of the Cheekkalloor airstrip project in Wayanad, warning that the infrastructure initiative would inflict significant social and ecological costs on the region. According to the environmental samiti's assessment, the airstrip development would necessitate the displacement of more than 1,000 families currently residing in the project area.

Beyond the human toll, the samiti has raised alarm about the agricultural impact, noting that approximately 500 acres of productive paddy fields would be destroyed should the project proceed. The fertile agricultural lands targeted for development represent a critical food production resource for local communities.

The environmental group has also flagged transboundary concerns, warning that the airstrip project poses a direct threat to water security not only in Wayanad but also in adjoining regions of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The water-related impacts could extend across state boundaries, affecting agricultural and drinking water supplies across the tri-state region.

The revival of the Cheekkalloor airstrip proposal marks a renewed push to develop the infrastructure in Wayanad, a district already grappling with competing demands between development and environmental conservation. The environmental samiti's intervention seeks to ensure that the full costs of the project—social, agricultural, and hydrological—are carefully weighed in any policy deliberation.